Highest Paying Jobs With Only an Associate's Degree

Which associate's degrees will lead to the highest paying jobs? Find out how you can succeed with a quick return on your tuition investment.

The average community college student graduates with only a few thousand dollars in debt, compared to their bachelor’s degree cohorts, who average about $20,000 in debt.

For some industries, the more education you have, the more money you're likely to earn in a lifetime, but that's not always the case given the rising cost of education and some careers that only require an associate's degree. What many people still don't realize is that you don’t need to attend a four-year college in order to increase your earning potential. Some of the highest paying jobs only require an associate's degree.

A 2007 study conducted by The National Center for Education Statistics reports that the median salary for young adults with an associate’s degree was $35,000, over $5,000 higher than those with a high school diploma or GED.

Some of the high paying jobs in the list require certification, which can be obtained after earning your degree. Other jobs may require continued education.

Fast Return on Tuition Investment

The average community college student graduates with only a few thousand dollars in debt, compared to their bachelor’s degree cohorts, who average about $20,000 in debt. This means that associate’s degree recipients are more likely to see a return on their investment sooner than those with a bachelor’s degree.

High Salary Associate’s Degree Jobs

The associate’s degrees that return the highest investment are in the fields of healthcare, technology or occupational trade. Generally, the more math and science courses you take in your program, the higher a salary you will receive upon graduation. Seventeen percent of employees in science and engineering professions in the United States have earned an associate’s degree as their highest level of education.

In 2009, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released a list of the 25 highest paid occupations with an associate’s degree.